Several animal species are displaying unusual behaviour around Kolgrafafjörður in the Snæfellnes peninsula, Vísir reports.
Thousands of northern gannet birds have been plunging into the waters of the fjord over the past two days to feed on an abundance of herring. Both species’ behaviour is puzzling to local farmers, as these birds are usually in nesting season away from Kolgrafafjörður at this time of the year, while the herring have typically left by now to go find food in the open ocean.
Farmers have observed that it appears the northern gannets may be lacking a food supply, as some birds have been plunging so deep that they break their wings.
Additionally puzzling to locals is the whale activity. Killer whales have been in Kolgrafafjörður and the neighbouring Grundarfjörður for the past two weeks which is expected at this time of year. However the killer whales have suddenly left both fjords, even though they typically follow the herring.
More remarkable still is that the killer whales have been replaced by harbour porpoises and dolphins, which are also prey for killer whales, and very uncommon in the area. These uncommon visitors have been swimming as far up as a bridge that crosses the fjord and getting very close to land.
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